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Friday, March 29, 2024

Flat Top Johnny’s at its original Kendall Square location on Nov. 11, 2016. (Photo: Cristina R. via Yelp)

After announcing a return via tweet more than six months ago, the pool and pinball hall Flat Top Johnny’s appears Wednesday before Cambridge’s License Commission for food, alcohol and entertainment licensing for its new home: a 5,430-square-foot space in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology building at 238 Main St., Kendall Square. The location hadn’t been public previously.

That’s not far from where it closed Aug. 14, 2020, ending a 27-year run because of Covid pandemic restrictions. The old Johnny’s in 1 Kendall Square – across a plaza from a Friendly Toast restaurant that has relocated to Harvard Square but is yet to reopen – had a dozen pool tables; the new one is down to 10, with 11 pinball machines

The new Flat Top Johnny’s is asking license commissioners to be open to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, with seating for 160 inside and 40 patio seats on private property.

An attempt in 2021 to reopen in Allston withered from local opposition.

Update on Jan. 5, 2024: Flat Top Johnny’s has reopened.